Gripper for printing presses



Mafch 24, 1936. J E, HUDSON GRIPPER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 22, 1954 Patented Mar. 24, 1936 more!) STATES PATENT OFFICE GRIPPER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Joseph Edward Hudson, Baker, Oreg.

Application December 22, 1934, Serial -No. 758,841

19 Claims. 01. 164-98) The present invention relates to printing presses, and more particularly to grippers for holding the paper during printing, and has for its principal aim and object to improve the construction of such grippers and particularly to improve the construction of perforating grippers for platen presses, so that the printed material may be perforated simultaneously as it is printed.

Job printing is usually done on a platen printing press, and in many cases perforating the printed material is required so that a portion of the printed sheet may be readily removed. This perforating is usually done as a separate operation.

According to my invention, I provide an improved gripper device .so constructed and combined with a perforating mechanism that job work may be simultaneously printed and perforated, thus efiecting a considerable saving of time as well as the elimination of the usual webbing with strings and rubbers which is usually diflicult, even on the most favorable job.

Heretofore it has been proposed to combine a perforating blade with a gripper bar, but so far as I am aware, such devices have never proved successful in commercial practice. According to my invention a thin perforating blade is combined with a gripper bar and is adapted to cooperate with an impression block mounted in the type form, so that a substantial and uniform pressure may be applied to the perforating block during the printing impression.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be obvious to those skilled in the art from a consideration of one illustrated embodiment of the invention which is disclosed in the accompanying drawing and described in the following description.

In the drawing, which is intended purely as illustrative of the invention Fig. 1 is an elevation illustrating my improved gripper applied tov a conventional platen printing press, the parts of the press being shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved gripper;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view partly in diagram illustrating generally the cooperating relationship between the gripper bar and the impression block; and t Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the impression block;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of gripper bar.

According tothe invention, the improved gripper l may be attached in the usual way to the conventional slotted gripper-carrier H of a printing press, such as a platen job press having a platen i2 and form l3 carrying the type.

The gripper in may advantageously comprise a 1' 0 support or base 14 for the gripper blade IS, the support being made of a relatively heavy piece of stock, as for example metal, and formed with an opening IB'for the reception of suitablefastening means, as for example a bolt I1; by means of which itmay be adjustably secured to the gripper carrier I l int-he usual and customary manner. The support I4 may also be slotted as at I8 toreceive an end 'of the gripper blade 1 5; theslotted portion of the support terminating in a'tongue l9 adapted to '6 cooperate with a notch or recess in the .cooperating end "of the blade IS. The blade 15 is held in position in the slottedportion i8-of thesupport M by means of pairs of oppositely dispose clamping screws 2| and 22.

The gripper blade 15 is preferably slotted as at 23 throughout a-major portion of its length or otherwise formed to receive therein -a-reciprocable perforating blade -24 having serrated perforating edges 25 along one edge thereof. The ends of the blade are recessed as at '26 to receive one endof a flat leaf spring 21, the body "of the spring being mounted upon a fixed support, as for example, a pin 28. Preferably, there are one of thesesprings at each end of the blade tending normally to'hold the perforating blade in raised position with'reference to a face of the gripping blade. The springs 21 are very thin hairpin springs, thus making it possible to utilize an equally thin perforating blade 24 which is necessary to permit perforating'very 40 close to the printingas is required on many jobs. However, the springs aresufliciently-strongnormally to hold the blade in raised position. Furthermore, the simplicity of construction of the springs and their ready accessibility permits easier replacement when necessary. Reciprocative movements of the perforating blade 24 within the gripper blade [5 may be guided by means of a pin 29 engaging .an elongated slot 30 in the blade 24.

A relatively strong leaf spring 3| is mounted upon a support l4 and secured at one end to the bolt l1 and formed with a tongue 32 bearing upon the gripping blade [5 tending normally to hold the gripping blade in the position in alignment with the support and with the recessed shoulder 20 in engagement with the tongue I9.

The gripper bar support I4 is preferably provided with a plurality of adjusting screws 33, four being herein illustrated, in the rear end thereof, the inner ends of said screws being adapted to bear upon the gripper carrier I I of the press. When the gripper is attached to an ordinary press, which is often rough or uneven, the pressmen are often inclined to twist or bend the gripper bar so that it will occupy its proper position to the platen surface, and resort is often had to the use of shims of paper, cardboard or the like to make the proper adjustment. With my improved construction, the proper adjustment of the gripper may be quickly made by adjusting one or more of the screws 33 to accurately adjust the position of the gripper relative to the platen to accommodate for any irregularities or unevenness of the platen or for varying thickness of stock to be printed.

In some instances, the composition of the printed matter may be such as to require very close positioning between the grippers or gripper bases, rendering access to the adjusting screws 40 difiicult. To overcome this difficulty I may thread the slotted portions 4I (see Fig. 8) to receive screws 42 having conical heads 43 so that adjustment of the screws 42 in the threaded slot will vary the position of the slot I8 and effect the necessary lateral adjustment of the gripper blades.

An impression block 35 is mounted in the type carrying form (see Fig. 6) and is locked in the form with the type, and is for the primary purpose of providing a means for uniformly actuating the perforating blade 24. The impression block 35 is advantageously in the form of an elongated thin metal bar, the bar being substantially the length of the perforating blade 24, and being as thin as possible in order that the type may be brought closer-to the perforations when necessary. One longitudinal edge of the bar may be formed with a longitudinal groove 36 to receive the perforating blade 24.

The bar is provided with'a plurality of adjusting members, such as screws 31, screwed into the back edge of the bar by the adjustment of which the bar may be properly adjusted in the form so as to give a uniform pressure of the desired degree to the perforating blade, depending upon the irregularities of the platen and the thickness of the stock to be perforated.

The bar may also be formed with one or more openings 38 to removably receive locating pins 39 adapted, when in position, to mark the plates for the exact registering position of the perforating blade 24. k

In using the invention the form is set up in the usual way, the impression block being locked in the form between the type and the desired location'according to the copy, the screws 31 having been previously adjusted so as to position the grooved edge of the block 35 in approximate position for the thickness of stock and character of work to be printed. The locating pins 39 are then placed in the openings 38 and the press is closed, the pins marking the platen for the exact location of the gripper bar and perforating blade, so that registry with the impression block 35 Will be assured. The gripper bar with the perforating blade is then adjusted along the carrier I I so that the blade 24 will register with the markings made by the locating pins 39, after which the pins 39- are removed from the impression block 35.

Adjustment of the gripper bar I5 as to true parallelism with the platen and the stock to be printed may be effected by the adjustment of the screws 33 in the gripper base I4, to the end that the perforating blade and groove of the im-' pression block may be accurately aligned and truly parallel to each other when the press is closed for the printing impression.

In some instances the gripper blade may be angularly disposed with reference to the impres-- sion block as the press is closed and in order to insure perfect registration between the perforating blade 24 and impression block 35, it is necessary to adjust the blade I5 angularly with refer-' ence to the longitudinal axis of the base I4. Accordingly, the end of the base I4, opposed to the fastening I! may be provided with adjusting screws 48 adapted to bear upon the blade I5 and adjust its position angularly in the slot I8. Preferably that portion of the base I4 is slotted as at 4I, providing flexible sides for the slot I8 and the adjusting screws 40 are mounted in the outer rigid portions. This permits of the annular adjustment of the blade as above described without interfering with the pivoting action of the blade about the screws 2I22.

In use, paper is fed to the platen I2 of the press and during the movement of the platen toward the form I3 the gripper bar is actuated in a conventional manner to grip the paper and hold it'securely in place. Advantageously the gripping of the paper is effected at spaced points on opposite sides of the perforating blade. the platen moves toward the form to make the printing impression, the perforating blade 24 comes in contact with the groove in the impression block 35 to displace the perforating blade 24 from the gripping blade to force the serrated perforated edges 25 of the blade to engage and cut into the paper or stock being printed.

Upon release of the pressure of the press, the perforating blade 24 is immediately released from and springs away from the paper due to the tension action of the springs 26 and the gripping blade remains in contact with the paper holding the paper sheet secured to the platen. Thus, it is possible by the present construction to suc cessfully and simultaneously print and perforate various grades of paper ranging from thin tissues to relatively heavy cardboard.

Advantages of the invention reside principally in the great saving of time in simultaneously printing and perforating job work and the action of the device in perforating the sheet and releasing the perforating blade while the paper is held under compression of the gripping blade enables the work to be successfully performed on papers of a wide variety. Furthermore, the invention enables a very considerable saving in time and eliminates the usually required webbing with strings and rubber which is usually difficult. Because of the use of the impression block and the adjustment therefor, it is possible to produce a required and uniform pressure upon the perforating blade for any desired thickness of stock'and number of impressions. A further important advantage of the invention is that as the impression block engages and actuates the perforating blade 24 and as the press continues to close, the impression block engages the side arms of the bar I5 and causes the bar to grip and hold the paper or stock immediately adjacent the line of scoring.

Certain features of 'the invention, as for example, the construction of the gripper bars and the manner of mounting the gripper blade l5 thereto, obviously are applicable to gripper bars generally, whether or not combined with a perforating blade.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the particular details of construction shown and described but may be embodied in other forms and arrangements.

I claim:

1. In combination with a printing press hav ing a type form, of a gripper bar having spaced faces for engaging and holding the work, a per-' forating blade mounted in said bar, and an impression block mounted in the type form for actuating the perforating blade to perforate the work between the spaced faces engaging the work and means for causing the clamping faces to engage and hold the work during the initial release of the perforating blade.

2. In combination with a printing press having a type form, of a gripper bar having spaced work-engaging faces for engaging and holding the Work, a spring tensioned perforating blade mounted in said bar for movement between said faces, and an impression block mounted in the type form for actuating the perforating blade to perforate the work and means for causing the clamping faces to engage and hold the work during the initial release of the perforating blade.

3. In combination with a printing press having a type form, of a gripper bar having spaced work-clamping faces for engaging and holding the work, a perforating blade mounted in said bar, and an impression block mounted in the type form for actuating the perforating blade to perforate the work, said impression block being constructed to actuate said perforating blade and to cause the gripper bar to clamp the work during perforating and means for causing the clamping faces to engage and hold the work during the initial release of the perforating blade.

4. In combination with a printing press having a gripper carrier and a type form, of a gripper base, a gripper bar pivotally connected to the bar for engaging and holding the work, a perforating blade mounted in said bar, and an impression block adjustably mounted in the type form for applying a uniform pressure to the perforating blade as the press is closed for the printing impression, and means for adjusting the angular position of the gripper bar with reference to the base and to the face of the platen of the press to insure absolute alignment of the impression block and perforating blade as the press is closed.

5. A perforating gripper bar for platen printing presses and the like having a gripper carrier, a gripper base adjustably secured to said carrier, a gripper bar resiliently carried by said base, and a perforating blade resiliently mounted for'reciprocation in said grip er bar.

6. A perforating gripper bar for platen printing presses and the like having a gripper carrier, a gripper base adjustably secured to said carrier, a gripper bar resiliently carried by said base, and a perforating blade resiliently mounted for re ciprocation in said gripper bar, said perforating blade being formed with recessed ends, and spring members concealed in said gripper bar and engaging said recesses for normally holding said perforating blade in retracted position.

7. In combination with a platen printing press having a transverse gripper bar carrier, of a gripper base, for adjiistabl'y iaiiiping' said base to said carrier at various positions along the length ti said carrier, means for adjusting the position of said-base relatively to said carrier, .a gripper bar pivotally connected to said base,- and spring means normally holding said bar in the plane of said base.

8. In combination with a platen printing press having a type-form and transversely extending gripper bar carrier, of a gri per bar connected to said carrier and capable of adjustment longitudinally thereof, means for clamping the bar in adjusted position on the carrier, a perforating blade reoiprocably mounted in said bar, a cooperating impression block clamped in the type form of said press, said impression blockadapted to engage said perforating blade upon closing of the press to actuate said perforating blade to perforate the work being printed and means in addition to the clamping means for variably adj usting the position of the gripper bar laterally with respect to impression block to insure perfect alignment thereto.

9. In combination with a platen printing press having a transversely extending gripper bar carrier, of a gripper bar connected to said carrier and capable of adjustment longitudinally thereof, a perforating blade reoiprocably mounted in said bar, a cooperating impression block clamped in the type form of said press, said impression I block adapted to engage s'a'id perforating blade upon closing of the press to actuate said perforating blade to perforate the work being printed, and means for adjustably mounting said impression block on said form to insure uniform pressure upon said perforating blade throughout its length.

10. In combination with a platen printing press having a transversely extending gripper bar car'- rier, of a gripper bar connected to said carrier and capable of adjustment longitudinally thereof, a perforating blade reoiprocably mounted in said bar, a cooperating impression block clamped in the type form of said press, said impression block adapted to engage said perforating blade upon closing of the press to actuate said perforating blade to perforate the work being printed, and means for adjusting the impression block toward and from the face of the type to variably regulate the degree of actuation of the perforating blade.

11. In combination with a platen printing press having a type form and transversely extending gripper bar carrier, of a gripper bar connected to said carrier and capable of adjustment longi- 12. In combination with a platen printing press block adapted to engage said perforating blade upon closing of the press to actuate said perforating blade to perforate the work being printed, and means for variably adjusting the position of the gripper bar angularly with reference to the surface of the platen, to insure accurate alignment of the perforating blade and impression block as the press is closed.

13. A gripper bar for platen printing presses having a transversely extending gripper carrier, a gripper base clamped to said carrier, said base having a slot in one end thereof, a thin gripper bar mounted in said slot, means intermediate the end of said slot for pivotally clamping said bar thereto, and spring means for holding the bar normally. in alignment with said base.

14. A perforating gripper attachment for platen printing presses having a transversely extending gripper carrier, a perforating gripperbar adjustably secured to said carrier, a cooperating impression block clamped in the type form of said press, locating means adapted to "be associated with said impression block adapted upon closing the press to mark the portion of the platen thereof in registry with said impression block.

15. A perforating gripper attachment for platen printing press having a transversely extending gripper carrier, a perforating gripper bar adjustably secured to said carrier, a cooperating impression block clamped in the type form of said press, locating means adapted to be associated with said impression block adapted upon closing the press to mark at spaced intervals portions of said platen in exact registry with the impression block when the press is closed, and means for adjusting the gripper bar so that the perforating blade thereof will coincide precisely with the marked portions, whereby to insure precise registry between the perforating blade and impression block when the press is closed.

16. A gripper bar for platen printing presses having a transversely extending gripper carrier,

a gripper base clamped to said carrier, said base having a slot in one end thereof, a thin gripper bar mounted in said slot, means intermediate the end of said slot for pivotally clamping said bar thereto, means for variably adjusting the gripper bar angularly with respect to the base and in a plane parallel to the platen.

1'7. A gripper bar for platen printing presses having a transversely extending gripper carrier, a gripper base clamped to caid carrier, said base having a slot in one, end thereof, a thin gripper bar mounted in said slot, means intermediate the end of said slot for pivotally clamping said bar thereto, and adjusting screws threaded in the base and engaging the bar for variably adjusting the angular position of the bar with reference to the base.

18. A gripper bar for platen printing presses having a transversely extending gripper carrier, a gripper base clamped to said carrier, said base having a slot in one end thereof, a thin gripper bar mounted in said slot, means intermediate the end of said slot for pivotally clamping said bar thereto, and means for variably adjusting the effective width of the portions of the base adjacent its slot to vary the angular position of the bar with respect to the base.

19. A gripper bar for platen printing presses having a transversely extending gripper carrier, a gripper base clamped to said carrier, said base having a slot in one end thereof, a thin gripper bar mounted in said slot, means intermediate the end of said slot for pivotally clamping said bar thereto, and adjusting means threaded into the end of said base for variably adjusting the angular position of the bar with reference to the base.

JOSEPH EDWARD HUDSON. 

